112 IN THE DAYS OF AUDUBON 



" But I will recover them, and do better work than 

 before. It will take three years. The cat did not enter 

 that room — would that she had ! " 



So he must face the forest sun again and go over the 

 old trails and live like a wild man. He was doing work for 

 the sake of the work. 



" The rats have limited reason," he must have thought. 

 " Misfortune should not arrest any man in a purpose to do 

 his best." 



He would be more careful of his art treasures now — he 

 would place them where it would be well-nigh impossible 

 for accidents to befall them. He would become stronger 

 for his work than ever before. 



But Victor — what would he feel, what would he say? 



The news of the loss of the plates smote Victor to the 

 heart. 



His father had lost his property, was ridiculed at the 

 taverns, but he had not lost his character, or his purpose 

 in life. The boy met his disappointment with his mother's 

 heart and spirit. 



"Victor, am I ruined?" asked Audubon. "Am I?" 



" No, father, you must go over all the work again ; 

 you will do it better for your loss. I will go again into 

 the forests with you, or I will become a clerk to help you. 

 Your new journeys will educate me; they will make me a 

 naturalist." 



" Did ever a father have such a son? " 



